Indonesia floods spark anger over slow aid response
Residents in Indonesia’s westernmost regions are increasingly expressing anger and desperation over what they see as a slow and inadequate government response to devastating floods that struck weeks ago. The flooding, triggered by a rare cyclone in November, swept across the island of Sumatra, killing more than 1,000 people and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes. Aceh province was the hardest hit, accounting for nearly half of the fatalities. Many communities there continue to struggle with shortages of clean water, food, electricity and basic medical supplies. As frustration mounted, some residents began raising white flags outside their homes, a public signal of distress and a call for urgent assistance. The crisis has also placed immense pressure on local authorities, who say they lack sufficient resources to respond effectively. Earlier this month, the governor of North Aceh, Ismail A Jalil, […]
